The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-04
HOLIDAY LfTBRATURE.

HOLIDAY LITERATURE.
The literary and artistic elegance and luz
my displayed in the publications which shower
upon the community as the holidays approach
are nowhere more conspicuous than in the
books and periodicals designed for juvenile
readers. The best authors draw upon the
treasures of their knowledge and fancy for
generation; the most skillful artistsilluminate
the pages with their work; printers and bind
ers add their part in giving perfection OF
mechanical finish, and the result is at once
delight to the eye and joy to the soul Of the
appreciative reader. As it happens, however,
it is too often the parent, rather than the
child, who is the appreciative one. The middle
aged or elderly person, whose youth knew no
such profusion OF literature adapted to his
years. is inclined to look half enviously upon
the privileges enjoyed by his sons and daugh-
ters. When he was ysung. Christmas did not
-1r.Tg nm t-oks-of trave. or adventure. in
which boys figured the heroes; stories
OF home-life, in which the fortunes
of children formed the central theme. fairy
tales-a new supply for every season-or
history and science reduced to terms easy of
Juvenile comprehension. Instead, he was
forced to content himself with the heavier
tones which formed the home library. If
he came of an educated family that collection
of books was apt to contain some excellent
literat ure. There were stray volumes of the
CLnf~ ~,,I
Milton, Addison and Swift; there were
ponderous histories, and there were sure to be
religious works. Boys and girls of fourteen,
IL given choice, viii not turn TO Shakespeare
to crafty their budding intellectual tastes.
Gibbon is appalling to the youth most hun
cry for knowledge, and Baxter's Saints Rest
presents no charms Nevertheless, If the
choice is limited to the class of books men
toned, the child Of eager mind will not suf-
fer mental starvation. He will mouse among
those formidable volumes and extract therefrom
that which comes within his understanding.
With no light literature to distract his atten-
ton he will find en- interest in historical
heroes, and follow them through almost in
terminable pages to the end of their careers;
he will discover Shaksperian dramas which
satisfy his fancy for adventure, and please
his imagination; he will, without understand
ing all the allegory, pursue with interest the
course of Bunyan's pilgrim, and human
sympathy with his first ancestors will lead
him through the stately measures of para
disc Lost" Having thus, by force of circum-
STANCES, formed a liking for some of the best
literature the world has offered, he is not
likely, later in life, to feed his mind with an
inferior quality. If it has happened, how
ever; that among these booksa 'Don Quixote, !"
or 4Robinson Crusoe," or the arabian
Nights has found a place. he will cherish
them above all others, and bestow upon them
an affection which can only be given to the
others by mature readers It is the remem-
brance Of the delight which these romances
brought to his youthful soul that causes the
parert TO rejoice that his children are less
limj. Cd in their pleasures. With the idea in
his mind that they appreciate their privileges,
he tays for them the latest editions of his
old treasures, and supplies them with an
abundance Of the decorative literature of the
period. It is disappointment to discover
that they do not revel in these books as he
did in the few which were his, and
are curiously exacting and critical in
regard to the quality Of the works.
Books intended plainly and simply for in
struction in history science or what not are
rejected By the average boy or girl while bit
OF fiction 10 within their reach. Even when
Useful knowledge is concealed under a mask
of romance the disguise m ust be complete or
the acute youngster who is expected % absorb
the lessons unwittingly will not find the book
to his fancy. He not only refuses 10 take the
mental food which his father found none too
strong but fails to find any sort entirely ac-
ceptable save that which is orbughly sugar
coated. Asa consequence Of II taste, pam
pered by too great . profusion Sf riches and
Of the tendency Of the tinea| to make the